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HOME Menu

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Swapnote

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Swapnote - Error Messages

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Nintendo eShop

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Nintendo eShop - Error Messages

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Internet Browser

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Internet Browser - Error Messages

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Nintendo 3DS Camera

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Nintendo 3DS Camera - Error Messages

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Nintendo 3DS Sound

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AR Games

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Mii Maker

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StreetPass Mii Plaza

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Face Raiders

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Friends List

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Game Notes

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Notifications

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Activity Log

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Download Play

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StreetPass Mii Plaza

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StreetPass

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SpotPass

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System Update Fails, Unable to Access Nintendo eShop and System Settings

Information:

An Error Message is received during the system update, after which the Nintendo eShop and System Settings are inaccessible.

What To Do:

If this issue persists, please call us at 1-800-255-3700 for further assistance. Representatives are available seven days a week from 6 am to 7 pm Pacific time.

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Not Accurately Registering Motion or Counting Steps

Situation:

The system is not counting steps when it is closed

The system responds incorrectly or not at all when playing a game with motion controls

Important Note! During normal operation, steps will only register when the system is closed and in Sleep Mode.

What to do:

Check the software manual to make sure the game supports motion controls.

Turn off the Nintendo 3DS and close it.

Remove any game cards that are in the unit.

Grasp the system along the edge that has the game Card slot.

Gently slap the bottom of the system (near the serial number sticker) into the palm of your hand.

Turn the system on and make a note of the number of steps displayed on the HOME Menu.

Close the system (this puts it into Sleep Mode) and shake it gently with both hands five or six times.

Open the system and check to see if it registered any steps.

Additional information on steps can be found in the Operations Manual.

Still Not Resolved:

If the Nintendo 3DS still responds incorrectly to motion or does not respond at all, it will need to be repaired. To begin the repair process, click here.

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HOME Menu Icons Spinning Rapidly

Situation:

The HOME Menu icons spin rapidly on the upper screen

Information:

This is a normal feature of the Nintendo 3DS.

There are different animations built in for different applications

These animations are affected by the motion of the system

These animations are also affected by sound (input from the microphone)

If the system is in a loud setting, such as outdoors, in traffic, or a café, the ambient noise may be causing the icons to spin quickly

Try reducing noise around the system to see if the icons slow.

Try setting the system on a stationary surface.

Still Not Resolved?

If the HOME Menu icons are still spinning rapidly regardless of environment, the system will need to be repaired. Please click here for the repair options in your country.

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Not Receiving Play Coins from Steps

Situation:

The Nintendo 3DS is not receiving Play Coins

Play Coins are not registering

Important Note! During normal operation, steps will only register when the system is powered on and in Sleep Mode (closed).

Information:

After 100 steps the Nintendo 3DS will earn one Play Coin.

Up to 10 Play Coins can be collected in one day, up to a maximum of 300 Play Coins at one time.

A maximum of seven days’ worth of steps and play-time data can be recorded while Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi software titles are left running. The software must be exited once during that time to save the recorded step data.

Websites with a lot of images or features may load more slowly for the Nintendo 3DS Internet Browser. Try going to the mobile version of the site (replace www. with m. to access the mobile version), as those tend to have less features.

If the site still won't load, but other sites do, it's likely the site contains features or file types that are incompatible with the Nintendo 3DS Internet Browser.

This is usually due to the address information not matching up. Use your credit card statement to verify the billing information is correct.

Situation Not Resolved:

Contact the company that issued the credit card for assistance.

Applies To: Canada

What To Do:

This is usually due to the address information not matching up. Use your credit card statement to verify the billing information is correct.

If it's still not working, click here to visit the Canada Post website and verify the billing information.

Situation Not Resolved:

Contact the company that issued the credit card for assistance.

Applies To: Latin America

What to Do:

This is usually due to the address information not matching up. Use your credit card statement to verify the billing information is correct.

Situation Not Resolved:

Contact the company that issued the credit card for assistance.

Applies To: Gift Card

What to Do:

Check the instructions that came with the gift card for information about how to enter the billing address.

Some cards require that you use a pre-designated city, state, zip code, and county, while others require that you enter your own billing address information on their website.

Situation Not Resolved:

Contact the company that issued the gift card for assistance.

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Purchased Foreign Nintendo 3DS Prepaid Card

Situation:

A Nintendo 3DS Prepaid Card was purchased from another region

Important Note! Currently, Nintendo 3DS Prepaid cards are only available for use with consoles in the United States of America.

What to do:

Nintendo 3DS Prepaid cards are only intended for use with systems from the same region.

We are unable to exchange Nintendo 3DS Prepaid Cards designed for sale in one region for prepaid cards in another region.

We recommend you work with the retailer you purchased the card from, or find another use for it, such as giving it as a gift.

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Error Message: Battery Power Low

Situation:

When attempting to download from the Nintendo eShop, a message appears that says the battery is low, and it won't download the item.

What to do:

The system will need to be plugged in or placed on the charging cradle to continue with the transaction. This safety feature was added to prevent the system from shutting off in the middle of a download and possibly corrupting the data as a result.

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Prices Are in the Wrong Currency

Situation:

The prices in the Nintendo eShop are showing in a different currency (for example, MX$ 2.99)

What to do:

Prices in the Nintendo eShop are based on the region the Nintendo 3DS system is currently set to. Update the system's region settings to the correct region. (How to)

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Game Is Taking a Long Time to Download

Situation:

A digital download version of a game is taking a long time to download to the system.

Information:

The time it takes a game to download varies, and is dependent on the title being downloaded.

Due to the larger and variable size of these titles, some downloads could take some time. Additionally, factors such as the speed of your Internet connection will affect the amount of time it takes to download a game.

For additional system stability, try connecting your Nintendo 3DS system to the Nintendo 3DS AC Adapter when downloading.

If a download has not completed after several hours, please switch off the console and try again.

Friend registration is not complete until both users complete the registration for each other. (How to)

Still Not Resolved:

If the system is still unable to register friends, it will need to be repaired. Please click here for the repair options in your country.

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StreetPass Communication Problems

Situation:

The Nintendo 3DS is unable to exchange StreetPass data with a specific user or group of users

The Nintendo 3DS is unable to StreetPass with systems it has previously exchanged data with

Important Note!

After exchanging StreetPass data with someone you will be unable to exchange with them again for a minimum of 8 hours.

If you recently performed a system transfer, both systems need to be run through the
setup process and StreetPass needs to be enabled on both systems before they will
be able to exchange StreetPass data.

What to do:

Make sure wireless communication is enabled.

Make sure the software in use has StreetPass activated. (For information on activating StreetPass for a specific title, refer to the software manual.)

If you are having trouble with multiple applications, deactivate StreetPass for
StreetPass Mii Plaza.

Reactivate StreetPass for the title in question by launching the software from the
HOME Menu.

Put both systems into sleep mode and wait a few minutes to see if they exchange
StreetPass data.

Still Not Resolved?

If the above troubleshooting does not resolve the issue, please call us at 001 (425) 558-7078. Representatives are available from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Pacific Time, 7 days a week.

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Unable to Receive Data From a StreetPass Relay Point

Situation:

You are unable to receive StreetPass data after passing a StreetPass relay point.

Notes:

You must have your 3DS updated to system version 6.2.0- 0U or higher to take advantage of the StreetPass relay feature. (How to)

Your Nintendo 3DS must be in Sleep Mode (powered on and closed) to exchange StreetPass data.

You will not receive any StreetPass data from the relay point if you are the first person to pass with a specific game's StreetPass data or if the relay point currently has your StreetPass data.

Swapnote is not compatible with the StreetPass relay feature.

What to Do:

Use our StreetPass Communication Troubleshooting to ensure you are using the StreetPass feature correctly.

Stay at the location for 1 to 2 minutes to allow for your Nintendo 3DS to receive data from the StreetPass relay point.

Still Not Resolved?

If you are unable to receive any StreetPass data, try a different Nintendo Zone location.

If you are unable to receive StreetPass data from any StreetPass relay point, please contact us for additional assistance.

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SpotPass Communication Problems

Situation:

The Nintendo 3DS is unable to receive SpotPass data

What to do:

Make sure your wireless communication is enabled.

Make sure the software in use has SpotPass activated. (For information on activating SpotPass for a specific title, refer to the software manual.)

The speed of your connection depends on your location’s specific Wi-Fi network and the number of people accessing the network simultaneously. Ensure you are within an ideal range of an access point so the strongest possible signal is received.

You may not have the latest system update on your device. For more information, please go to the System Update Page

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Items unlocked in StreetPass Mii Plaza Not Appearing

Situation:

Hats or other Mii accessories unlocked in StreetPass Mii Plaza aren't appearing in the Mii Maker

Information:

Items or accessories unlocked while playing StreetPass Mii Plaza are only usable in StreetPass Mii Plaza. They are not accessible from the Mii Maker.

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Duplicate Puzzle Pieces in Puzzle Swap

Situation:

When purchasing Puzzle Pieces with Play Coins some are duplicates

Information:

The puzzle pieces purchased with Play Coins are randomly selected for any incomplete puzzle. There is no way to guarantee which piece will be purchased.

If the purchased piece has already been received by a player, a new piece will not be generated.

Check the lenses of the outer cameras for dust or dirt, and clean them if necessary. (How To)

Do not point the cameras directly into strong light sources.

Check Parental Controls to see if “Display of 3D Images” is restricted. (How To)

If the image seems out of alignment, try calibrating the outer cameras. (How To)

Situation Not Resolved:

If the above troubleshooting does not resolve the situation, the Nintendo 3DS system will need to be repaired. To begin the repair process, click here.

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Forgot Credit Card PIN

Situation:

The PIN set when saving credit card information has been forgotten

Important Note!

Once deleted, credit card information cannot be recovered.

Information:

The system will allow three attempts to enter the correct PIN for using the saved credit card information. After three failed attempts, the credit card information is deleted and must be completely re-entered the next time funds are added.